The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

""May184 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.That the spirits of the just in heaven are clearlyconversant with our affairs on earth, is also manifestfrom the following passages of Holy Writ. Thevenerable Patriarch Jacob, when on his death-bed,prayed thus for his two grandchildrentheangel that delivereth me from all evils, bless these1Here we see aboys."holy Patriarch one singularly favored by Almighty God, and enlightened bymany supernatural visions, the father of Jehovah sChosen people asking the angel in heaven to obtain a blessing for his grandchildren. And surelywe cannot suppose that he would be so ignorant asto pray to one that could not hear him ?The angel Raphael, after having disclosed himself to Tobias, said to him "When thou didst pray:with tears, and didst bury the dead, and didst leavethy dinner, I oifered 1thy prayer to the Lord."How could the angel, if he were ignorant of thesepetitions, have presented to God the prayers ofTobias?To pass from the Old to the New Testament, ourSaviour declares that there shall be joy before theangels of God upon one sinner doing penance."Then the angels are glad whenever you repent ofyour sins. Now, what isrepentance? It is a changeof heart. It is an interior operation of the will.The saints, therefore, are acquainted we knownot how not only with your actions and word^but even with your very thoughts.11Geu. xiviii. 16.* Tobias xii. 12. Luke xv. 10.